County To Help Aides Become Nurses

Lehigh County officials will implement a unique program designed to stem a growing nursing shortage while, at the same time, providing employees with the opportunity for career advancement.

Beginning in September, nurses' aides at Cedarbrook and the Fountain Hill Annex will be able to pursue a degree in licensed practical nursing - with classes to be held at the nursing home and tuition, books and child care provided by the county.

"Nurses' aides are the backbone of care in nursing homes and they've got a tough job," said County Administrator John J. Kachmar Jr.

The county's effort to provide a professional licensing program "is probably the most positive thing we can do for the employee," he added.

"We should end up with an employee work force that knows its employer is fair," Kachmar said.

The program has the support of Executive David K. Bausch, a licensed nursing home administrator.

Lehigh County Community College has agreed to bring its LPN program from the campus to the nursing homes, and the program will be coordinated by the county's Office of Training.

The county had a two-pronged purpose in developing a program that would produce "our own homegrown LPNs," Kachmar said.

Nurses' aides currently have two job classifications. At the second level, promotional opportunities are limited, Kachmar said.

The LPN program will offer aides the chance to upgrade, allow them to move well up the pay scale and create a wider career field, he said.

In addition, "we have to do something to protect our elderly 10 years down the road," Kachmar said.

Statistics show that the current nursing shortage is expected to continue for the next decade. At the same time, the geriatric population will grow.

As planned, the LPN program will incorporate 12 courses for a total of 52 credits. Structured over a three-year program, the cost per student will be $2,158 and $600 for books.

"This is a creative solution to a problem that will really benefit the county," Kachmar said.

Since the program fills a direct need with the county as the beneficiary, the Employee Education Assistance Program will absorb 100 percent of the cost, he said.

An added benefit to the program is the seniority the nurses' aide builds in the county structure while working through the student program.

In an effort to retain - even for a short term - those employees who take advantage of the program, the county legal department is also reviewing the possibility of a contract that would require the employee to stay on for a designated time after completing the course.

Francis Pecuch, director of nursing at Cedarbrook, sees the program as a vehicle to fill every vacant nursing slot at the homes while uplifting employee self-esteem.